Comments on: gapingvoid: edward gorey http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog/index.php?p=63 Words from D.J. Coffman, creator of Yirmumah. Covering pop culture, music, comics and whatever else comes to mind en Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:42:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.2.1 by: Andertoons http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog/index.php?p=63#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2005 19:16:08 -0800 46:63@http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog So there are other ways than syndication to make money cartooning?! GASP! (Honestly, are there any serious cartoonists who don’t know this?) So there are other ways than syndication to make money cartooning?! GASP! (Honestly, are there any serious cartoonists who don’t know this?)

]]> by: DJ http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog/index.php?p=63#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2005 19:20:37 -0800 47:63@http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog Yes. There are. In fact, many serious young cartoonists are lead to believe that unless you have a serious syndicate contract or have work in high profile places, you’re pretty much wasting your time. Yes. There are. In fact, many serious young cartoonists are lead to believe that unless you have a serious syndicate contract or have work in high profile places, you’re pretty much wasting your time.

]]> by: Andertoons http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog/index.php?p=63#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2005 06:26:55 -0800 49:63@http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog Who exactly is distributing said propaganda? Even syndicated cartoonists will tell you there are a multitude of revenue streams to paddle down. Here’s what it comes down to for me - if you want to be a cartoonist, draw cartoons. Tah-dah! You did it! Getting paid is ancillary. Who exactly is distributing said propaganda? Even syndicated cartoonists will tell you there are a multitude of revenue streams to paddle down. Here’s what it comes down to for me - if you want to be a cartoonist, draw cartoons. Tah-dah! You did it! Getting paid is ancillary.

]]> by: DJ http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog/index.php?p=63#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2005 06:36:53 -0800 50:63@http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog You’re kidding me? Just about every “how to” book out there for comic strips and cartooning makes syndication out to be the gold ring of cartooning. Which it’s not. So, there are thousands of would be cartoonists who are just lead away from it. Also, many many art teachers across the US have no respect for the artform, and belittle those who wish to pursue such an endeavor. Yes, if you want to be a cartoonist, draw cartoons and you’re a cartoonist! Tada! But if you want to have it be your career– you need to definitly think out of the box. Heck, look at great books like “Your Career in the COmics” it’s ALL about syndication. And it’s very bleak. It’s probably even bleaker now. It bothers me that a lot of younger aspiring cartoonists are lead astray into thinking you can’t be a professional cartoonist. You’re kidding me? Just about every “how to” book out there for comic strips and cartooning makes syndication out to be the gold ring of cartooning. Which it’s not. So, there are thousands of would be cartoonists who are just lead away from it. Also, many many art teachers across the US have no respect for the artform, and belittle those who wish to pursue such an endeavor.

Yes, if you want to be a cartoonist, draw cartoons and you’re a cartoonist! Tada!

But if you want to have it be your career– you need to definitly think out of the box. Heck, look at great books like “Your Career in the COmics” it’s ALL about syndication. And it’s very bleak. It’s probably even bleaker now. It bothers me that a lot of younger aspiring cartoonists are lead astray into thinking you can’t be a professional cartoonist.

]]> by: Andertoons http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog/index.php?p=63#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2005 07:03:53 -0800 51:63@http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog Don’t believe everything you read. As a gag cartoonist I can tell you there are loads of books about cartooning that never even mention syndication. ("The Cartoonist’s Muse” for one.) If you really want to be a cartoonist and you roll over at the first sign of adversity then you should consider another line of work. Cartooning is not for the weak of heart. If comic strips aren’t working out for you, try greeting card, magazine work, humorous illustration, etc… Don’t believe everything you read.

As a gag cartoonist I can tell you there are loads of books about cartooning that never even mention syndication. ("The Cartoonist’s Muse” for one.)

If you really want to be a cartoonist and you roll over at the first sign of adversity then you should consider another line of work. Cartooning is not for the weak of heart.

If comic strips aren’t working out for you, try greeting card, magazine work, humorous illustration, etc…

]]> by: Jason Embury http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog/index.php?p=63#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2005 07:44:09 -0800 52:63@http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog Ah……but the problem is young people ARE influential, and naive. they also put a great deal of stock in what others in the profession, as well as art teachers, professors and the like tell them. They think they’re getting a first hand account of what it’s like from someone who knows what they’re talking about. It’s hard to read the “books” when you’re a young person and take from them just what you need. Besides, books are nothing short of printed political opinion in a lot of instances anyways. Who’s side of the fence are you on? There is a business side to illustration (or cartooning), that you just don’t learn from going to school or from listening to other artists (MOST of the time. There are a few artists out there who are willing to share information with aspiring artists) It’s a pretty gray area if you ask me. There are just as many naysayers as there are people who will support you (if not MORE naysayers) You need to have a tough skin, and to perservere, and to DRAW for crying out loud, but you also have to acquire this business acumen that is one of those intangible things. Especially if you want to be an artist for a living. Ah……but the problem is young people ARE influential, and naive. they also put a great deal of stock in what others in the profession, as well as art teachers, professors and the like tell them. They think they’re getting a first hand account of what it’s like from someone who knows what they’re talking about. It’s hard to read the “books” when you’re a young person and take from them just what you need. Besides, books are nothing short of printed political opinion in a lot of instances anyways. Who’s side of the fence are you on?

There is a business side to illustration (or cartooning), that you just don’t learn from going to school or from listening to other artists (MOST of the time. There are a few artists out there who are willing to share information with aspiring artists) It’s a pretty gray area if you ask me. There are just as many naysayers as there are people who will support you (if not MORE naysayers) You need to have a tough skin, and to perservere, and to DRAW for crying out loud, but you also have to acquire this business acumen that is one of those intangible things. Especially if you want to be an artist for a living.

]]> by: DJ http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog/index.php?p=63#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2005 07:50:29 -0800 53:63@http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog I know for me personally, I was kinda dumbfounded when my own art teacher told my parents i had “cartoon tunnel vision” – I ditched the art class and went straight to graphic arts and printing pre press stuff. I’ve heard the same story from hundreds of folks I run into when cartooning comics up. I don’t encourage people NOT to go to college to pursue cartooning as a career– but it was the best thing I ever did. I know for me personally, I was kinda dumbfounded when my own art teacher told my parents i had “cartoon tunnel vision” – I ditched the art class and went straight to graphic arts and printing pre press stuff. I’ve heard the same story from hundreds of folks I run into when cartooning comics up.

I don’t encourage people NOT to go to college to pursue cartooning as a career– but it was the best thing I ever did.

]]> by: Andertoons http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog/index.php?p=63#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2005 08:05:19 -0800 54:63@http://www.yirmumah.djcoffman.com/blog My high school guidance counselor told me I could never make a living as a jazz trombonist. Soon after I travelled the world for three years doing just that. Now I draw cartoons for a living and I’m a stay-at-home dad. Two more things everyone told me I could/should never do. It’s a shame that so often promising artists/writers/musicians are discouraged and choose to follow bad advice. But they can also choose to not follow the advice. Whose side of the fence am I on? My own. I’ve built a nice little fence here and I’m going to plant some flowers soon. And remember, good fences make good neighbors. (I have no idea what I mean by that, but it sounded profound so I thought I’d throw it in.) My high school guidance counselor told me I could never make a living as a jazz trombonist. Soon after I travelled the world for three years doing just that.

Now I draw cartoons for a living and I’m a stay-at-home dad. Two more things everyone told me I could/should never do.

It’s a shame that so often promising artists/writers/musicians are discouraged and choose to follow bad advice. But they can also choose to not follow the advice.

Whose side of the fence am I on? My own. I’ve built a nice little fence here and I’m going to plant some flowers soon.

And remember, good fences make good neighbors. (I have no idea what I mean by that, but it sounded profound so I thought I’d throw it in.)

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